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Swan Township embraces that part of congressional township 77, range 21, lying south of the Des Moines River, and has an area of about twenty-four square miles. On the north it is bounded by the Des Moines River, which separates it from Perry Township; on the east by the Township of Union; on the south by Pleasant Grove, and on the west by Warren county. Originally about one-half [was] prairie and the remainder was covered with timber. Several small streams flow through the township, the most important of which is Sugar Creek in the northern part. Coal is found in various localities and several veins have been worked in the past, though at present there are no mines of commercial importance.
After the big flood of 1851 the people of Perry Township living on the south side of the Des Moines River became dissatisfied with conditions as they then existed and started a movement for the organization of a new township. On February 20, 1853, a petition signed by Eli Vanderford and thirty-eight others was presented to the county judge asking that Perry Township be divided and that portion south of the river erected into a new township to be called Swan. It is said that this name was proposed by one of the residents, |p. 129| who had formerly lived in Swan Township, Athens County, Ohio, and that it was selected because of its beauty and brevity. Judge Brobst granted the prayer of the petitioners and ordered that the first township election should be held on the first Monday in April, 1853, at the house of Charity Groom. Thirty-seven votes were cast and the following officials were elected: Edward Murray, James Metcalf and Jacob Haynes, trustees; H. W. Groom, clerk; Eli M. Cole, assessor; Samuel P. Hamilton and J. Metcalf, justices of the peace; A. G. Young and Robert McElroy, constables.
As the territory comprising Swan Township lies west of the Red Rock line established by the treaty of October 11, 1842, it was not opened to white settlement until October, 1845. During the late fall of that year and the year 1846, the following persons settled within the present township limits: Charles M. Thomas, Jesse Johnson, James Crabb, the three Markly brothers, Harrison Freel, William Groom, John Henry, WIlliam H. Palmer, John Groom, John Stroop, John Firman and his three sons; Jesse Walker, William Bundren and Mary Tout. In 1847 the population was increased by the arrival of Daniel Hunt, John Butcher, Andrew Schirner, the Childers family and a few others. From that time on the growth of the township was steadily onward and upward, both in population and wealth.
The first white child born in the township was Emma Jane, daughter of William H. Palmer. She was born on October 8, 1846, grew to womanhood and became the wife of James H. Easley, for many years a resident of the township. The first marriage was that of William Markly and Miss Eva Groom, which was solemnized in February, 1848.
Jesse Walker planted the first orchard, on the farm afterward known as the Jacob Camp place, and some of the trees were still living forty years later, being over twelve inches in diameter and still bearing fruit. The first religious services were held by a United Brethren minister named Forbes. The first timothy seed was sown by Daniel Hunt in the spring of 1848.
The first school was taught by John E. Groom, but the date cannot be learned. The cabin in which this school was taught stood on the east side of Daniel Hunt's farm, on the Hoosier Prairie, and had been erected by a man named Moore. In 1914 there were four school districts in the township, exclusive of the schools in the incorporated town of Swan. Five teachers were employed during the preceding school year. |p. 130|
A fine example of the manner in which justice was meted out to offenders in early days is seen in the history of Swan Township. Five brothers--Jonas, William John, Ebenezer and James Castner--were among the early settlers. All were men grown except James. Jonas was the only one married and they all lived with him, about two miles west of the present village of Wheeling. The reputation of these people had preceded them and was such that the law-abiding citizens concluded that they were no profitable addition to the settlement, to say the least. It was rumored that the Castners had been driven from Missouri, and after coming to Marion County they were closely watched, the reputable people being determined to get rid of them at the first opportunity. Such an opportunity was not long in coming. "Bill" Castner went to Illinois, where he took part in a daring robbery, was arrested and confined in the jail at Quincy. He succeeded in breaking jail, however, and made his way, closely pursued, to the home of his brother, Jonas.
News of his escape reached the people of Swan Township and a self-organized posse determined to watch Jonas' cabin for his arrival. They secreted themselves in such a way as to be able to see all that took place about the cabin, knowing that the family expected his return that night, and that his brother John had left home to join him. Midnight came and passed without developments of any kind. Then the posse heard the hoot of an owl in the timber not far away, and this was answered almost immediately by an owl near the house. The suspicions of the watchers were aroused, but they waited patiently until daylight before taking any action. Then Ebenezer and James were taken into custody, after the cabin had been surrounded, and informed that unless they told just what the hooting of the owls meant they would be severely punished. At first the two boys denied all knowledge of any signals, but after James saw the gad in the hands of a brawny man, whose countenance showed that he would be willing to use it, the boy weakened and told how the hooting of the owl in the timber was made by John and Bill to let him and Eb. know where they were, so that they could take them somthing to eat. This story was afterward corroborated by Ebenezer, but not until after a few lashes had been applied to his back to awaken his recollection and his conscience. The two boys then led the posse to the place where the brothers had been concealed, but the next was empty.
The next step was to order the whole family to quit the country within a given time, or take the consequences. The time expired |p. 131| without any move on the part of the Castners, and again the citizens gathered to see that the order was enforced. They compelled the family to hitch up the team and load their household goods, etc., upon the wagon, after which they were escorted by a guard to a point beyond Bremen, Monroe County, where they were admonished to "keep on going."
In the meantime Jonas Castner had removed to near Hartford, Warren County, and some time afterward the people of Swan Township learned that Ebenezer was at his brother Jonas' house. A company of men from Swan and Pleasant Grove townships and Warren County was hastily organized, Wesley Jordan was elected captain, and the company then started for Jonas Castner's house. They were discovered by Jonas and Ebenezer, who were watering their horses at a spring, carrying their rifles with them as though in anticipation of an attack. The horses were at once abandoned and the two brothers took shelter in the house. When the company was drawn up in front of the house, Jonas came to the door and announced that he would shoot the first man that came within a certain distance. Captain Jordan replied that they had come for his brother and would not leave until he had been produced. Eb. then came to the door with a large butcher knife in his hand and demanded to know what they wanted. Jordan reminded him that he had promised not to return to this part of the country and that he had violated his word. He was then notified that he would be given a specified time to leave the country for good, or be severely handled. Someone suggested that as Jonas had been guilty of harboring his brother, the order to leave should apply to him also. Captain Jordan then called upon all those who were in favor of including Jonas to step one pace to the front, but just then Jonas appeared in the doorway with his gun and threatened to shoot any man that took the forward step. Immediately every gun in the company was leveled at him, when, concluding that discretion was the better part of valor, he hastily retreated within the house and closed the door. A few minutes later he was apprised of the result of the vote, and within the time specified he left the country.
The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad enters the township from the south, about two miles from the southwest corner, and follows a course a little west of north to the Town of Swan, where it turns to the west and crosses the western boundary of the county about a mile south of the Des Moines River. Swan is the only station in the township. |p. 132|
In 1910 the population of Swan was 750, and in 1913 the taxable property was assessed at $615,036.